Digest for 02-17-14

Monday

Feb 17, 2014 at 8:49 AM

CORRECTION

CORRECTION

The White Hall boys basketball team defeated Magnolia 63-59 Friday night. It was incorrectly labeled in Sunday’s paper. Their record improves to 6-14 overall and 3-7 in the 5A South. They will play at Watson Chapel today.

LOCAL

UAM, Minnesota Duluth swap shutouts

BENTONVILLE — The Arkansas-Monticello softball team (7-4) nd Minnesota-Duluth (4-4) split a pair of 2-0 games on Monday in the closing contests of the 8-State Classic. UAM picked up the win in the first game behind a complete-game effort of senior pitcher Courtney Wilson, who recorded her second shutout and fifth complete game of the 2014 campaign. The Cotton Blossoms left 16 runners on base resulting in the loss in the second half of the double header. UAM went 5-2 over the weekend.

On Sunday, UAM suffered its first loss of the 8-State Classic, falling to Fort Hays State 5-3 in the first game of the day before responding with a 6-2 win over Southwest Baptist in the afternoon game.

STATE

Shannon receives pay raise

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas senior associate head coach Randy Shannon has received a pay raise to $400,000 annually, according to a letter of agreement obtained through a Freedom of Information request Monday.

Shannon — who was the program’s linebackers coach last season — signed the letter of agreement last Friday. The pay raise was no surprise. Arkansas coach Bret Bielema announced earlier this month he had promoted Shannon, who had been considered a candidate for the defensive coordinator role after Chris Ash left for a position at Ohio State, to senior associate head coach.

Shannon earned $315,000 in his role as linebackers coach last season.

His new agreement runs through June 30, 2015 and includes a $100,000 buyout throughout Dec. 31, 2014. The buyout drops to $50,000 after that date and runs through the length of the agreement with the Razorbacks.

The finalized letter of agreement came after Arkansas announced new defensive coordinator Robb Smith would earn $500,000 annually. Smith said he and Shannon had a conversation before he was hired about working together to rebuild Arkansas’ defense, which was ranked 88th in the nation in points allowed last season (30.8).

Arkansas sweeps Appalachian State

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas posted a season-opening sweep of Appalachian State with an odd 8-3 win against Appalachian State on Sunday at Baum Stadium.

The Razorbacks (3-0) managed just three hits. But the Mountaineers’ pitching staff hit six Arkansas batters and walked seven more. Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said it was one of the strangest games he’d ever seen.

Through three games, the Mountaineers (0-3) hit 12 Razorbacks with pitches. Last season, Arkansas was only hit 36 times which ranked 258th in NCAA Division I out of 296 teams. It’s something the players have talked about coming into this year.

Jacob Stone (1-0) got the win for Arkansas in relief.

Arkansas hosts Eastern Illinois for a three-game series beginning Friday at 3:05 p.m.

The 21-year-old may still have some things to learn, but his performance was no joke.

Irving netted 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and the East defeated the West, 163-155, in the 63rd edition of the NBA All-Star Game.

Irving was 14-of-17 from the field and added 14 assists for the East, who scored the game’s final 10 points after trailing by as many as 18 in the third quarter.

The 318 combined points set an All-Star Game record, as did the 163 points that the East recorded.

The West had won three straight All-Star Games and five of the last seven.

Carmelo Anthony made an All-Star record eight 3-pointers and finished with 30 points, LeBron James registered 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Paul George chipped in with 18 points for the East.

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